Calpis America to build plant, create 42 jobs in Peachtree City

Calpis America, a maker of animal feed ingredients, plans to build a $20 million plant in a Peachtree City industrial park and hire 42 people, Gov. Nathan Deal announced Friday.

Peachtree City will also serve as the U.S. headquarters for the company which is part of Tokyo-based Calpis  Co. Ltd., a maker of dietary supplements and animal feed additives. The company has existing U.S.  facilities in Los Angeles and Illinois.

Operations are expected to begin in April 2014.

Deal said Georgia is ideal for the Calpis expansion because the sate is  the country’s top poultry producer

Calpis America president Masato Yoshida  said, “Locating this plant in Georgia will enable us to better serve the industry and to utilize the abundant workforce. Peachtree City provides us good access to our users as well as transportation convenience both domestically and internationally.”

Fayette County Development Authority Chair Randy Hayes said, “Our proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and our unique quality of life are going to help Calpis get off to a great start here in Georgia.”

Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Cummiskey said Calpis will be one of more than 370 Japanese businesses in Georgia. Together, they employ more than 20,000 people.

He called Calpis’ decision, “… a perfect example of the reason Georgia established an office in Japan 40 years ago.”